Kristjaan Speakman named FC Copenhagen sporting director after club confirms appointment | OneFootball

Kristjaan Speakman has returned to football as FC Copenhagen's sporting director, his first role since leaving Sunderland earlier this year.

The club said he was their preferred candidate after a rigorous recruitment process. He will begin work on one July.

He takes charge after a poor campaign that saw Copenhagen in the relegation division for the first time. A play-off win secured a place in the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League qualifiers.

Speakman said he is proud to join what he called a fantastic club, noting its special history and demanding fan base. He said the task is to keep improving sporting functions to bring trophies back, with ambitions unchanged but the approach needing to evolve.

He added there is plenty to do in the short and long term. His immediate focus is supporting head coach Bo Svensson and building a first-team squad that can qualify for the Conference League and win the championship, work he said is already under way.

Chief executive Jacob Lauesen said he had been struck by Speakman’s strategic insight during detailed talks about an upcoming transformation. He hailed his hands-on experience and holistic approach and said he is the right person to lead rapid improvements.

Source: Sunderland Echo